How would you describe Nina and Otto’s relationship as a couple and their relationship with each of their sons at the beginning of the story? How do those relationships change through the course of the story?
Otto and Nina are dedicated to one another and their sons throughout the story. Their intensity to protect and support family responds to changing situations. The author suggests they’re sacrificing their togetherness as the story ends. I was left wondering about their future together.
As with other characters in the novel but especially with families one of their important motivations was protect the members within the family. Otto and Nina was a prime example of that desire towards each other but more importantly towards their sons.
Otto and Nina had a caring, loving relationship. They put their family first, and as parents often do, they made decisions that were the best for their children, but not the best for them. I fully understood why they needed to be apart from each other to help their sons. I don’t think Kurt would have survived in Germany by himself. While he spoke the language he did not know the customs or the difficulties of being in a country that was largely destroyed from a war. The other son was in for a rough time due to his injuries and his sexual orientation and needed help adjusting to his current situation. I do hope that they will be all be able to be united as a family.